Thanks to star
striker Andriy Shevchenko's penalty goal, World Cup debutants Ukraine beat
ten-man desperate Tunisia in their last Group H match in Berlin yesterday.
Ukraine finished runners-up of the group with six points,jumping into the
knockout stage together with group winners Spain who collected three wins.
Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin felt relieved after the win."It was a tight game,
a question of nerves," Blokhin said."We had chances but we didn't take full
advantage."Shevchenko chased a ball wide in the penalty area in the 70th minute
and tumbled under the challenge of Tunisian defender Karim Haggui.
The AC Milan strier scored from the spot, his second goal at the World Cup.
In today's crucial duel for both sides, Tunisia must win to keep the chance
to advance to the last 16 while Ukraine only need a tie.
Both teams fielded
the same side they played in their last fixtures, in which Ukraine crushed Saudi
Arabia 4-0 and Tunisia lost to Spain 3-1.
Nine minutes into the game, Tunisian forward Zied Jaziri got achance in the
penalty area but he was showed the yellow card for fake stumble.
Tunisian midfielder Adel Chedli's long shot flew over the crossbar on 14
minutes.
As Spain led Saudi Arabia in the first half, a win could have given Tunisia
the runners-up spot in Group H, but their task was made all the more difficult
when they had striker Zied Jaziri sent off for a second bookable offence on the
stroke of half-time. Ukraine threatened as the first half came to an end. Again
the back line of Tunisia held firm.
"After the sending-off, my players probably took it a bit too easy," said
Blokhin.
"I was nervous until the very end. Now I'm very satisfied," he added.
Despite losing a man, Tunisia did not play conservatively in the second half.
A long free-kick was directed towards Tunisian defender RadhiJaidi in the
50th minute but he was penalized for pushing. On 66 minutes, Tunisian defender
Anis Ayari's free-kick was struck well and landed on the top of the netting.
It was the nearest either team came to break the deadlock. The 84th minute
saw a chance for Ukraine to double their leadbut Oleg Shelayev, running on to a
pull-back from the right flank,wafted the effort over the bar.
In injury time, a Tunisia free-kick was glanced on by substitute Santos but
it flew narrowly wide.Roger Lemerre's side will depart Germany after having
taken part in their third consecutive FIFA World Cup, but 2006 also represents
the third consecutive tournament that they have failed to get past the group
stage.
Ukraine are now looking forward to a second round tie against the winners of
Group G in Cologne on June 26.
